2009 · Board game · Strategy

81diver

In the world of Shogi (Japanese Chess), there are professional players who make their living at the game and gamblers who play Shogi for money. In Hachi-One Diver, gamers take the latter tack and play Shogi against an assortment of opponents who vary in their level of skill and attitude.

Released: 14 July 2009
Platforms: PlayStation 2 Wii
Genres: Board game Strategy
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Perspective: First person
Country: Japan
Age ratings: CERO D
Languages: Japanese

About

81diver (Japanese: ハチワンダイバー, Hepburn: Hachi Wan Daibā) is a Japanese shogi-themed manga series written and illustrated by Yokusaru Shibata. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from September 2006 to July 2014, with its chapters collected in 35 tankōbon volumes. The story follows Kentarō Sugata, a shogi player who, after failing to go pro, is inspired to take the game seriously again following a defeat by Soyo Nakashizu, a champion with a surprising side job.

An 11-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on Fuji TV from May to July 2008. It starred Junpei Mizobata as Kentarō Sugata and Riisa Naka as Soyo Nakashizu. The title refers to the main character's shogi nickname, which comes from the words of his former teacher who once told him to dive into the 9 by 9 (81) squares of the shogi board.

Keywords

shogi
based on - manga

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

Kentarō Sugata failed at entering the professional league of shogi board game competition. However, he continues to play the game for a living by gambling at amateur shogi clubs. His encounter and defeat by the shogi player named Soyo Nakashizu, known as "Akihabara's champion" (アキバの受け師, Akiba no Ukeshi), shocks him and, combined with his financial crisis, reinvigorates him to take shogi more seriously. He also finds out by chance that Soyo offers a part-time maid cosplay house cleaning service, another side of her which further intrigues him.

Reception

81diver ranked first on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2008 ranking of best manga series for male readers. The manga was one of the Jury Recommended Works at the 11th Japan Media Arts Festival's Manga Division/Story Manga in 2007. It was nominated for the 12th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2008.